Combined tilting chair and foot rest



April 1, 1958 H. w. MAURER 2,828,802

COMBINED TILTING CHAIR AND FOOT REST Filed May 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. HERMAN W. MAURER BY I KA/flk4 ATTORNEY April 1, 1958 H. w.MAURER COMBINED TILTING CHAIR AND FOOT REST 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F l G .7

File May 20, 1952 INVENTOR. HERMAN W. MAURER AT ORNEY 'where not there.

Unite States Patent 2,828,802 COMBINED TILTIN G CHAIR AND FGGT RESTHenna'n W. MZIUI'BI, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application May 20, 1952,Serial No. 288,821 8 Claims. (Cl. 155-77) This invention pertains tochairs of the tilt-back type and, more particularly, to one with aneasily detachable foot rest portion in which a stationary or tilt chairis converted to a lounge chair, a sofa chair, and to an adjustabledevice for establishing substantial balance in the tilt chair to providefor needed adjustments required for users of various sizes and weightsand for the foot rest portion weight if attached.

In the use of tilt-back chairs with separate Ottomans or footstools, theuser may obtain complete comfort in one relative position of stool andtilted chair, whereas, for further desired tilting with the stool stillresting on the floor, an uncomfortable position obtains, possibly evenleaving the users legs Without sufiicient support from the stool or evendangling in front of the chair free from the stool.

In order to obtain a more comfortable position, some have connected anextended footrest section to the front of the chair, but this does notgive continuous maximum comfort under all conditions with users ofvarious heights, sizes, and weights. Such an extended chair or chaiselounge often sticks out too far into a small room to look well or besafe for those afoot about the room, in which case it may be desirableto use only the rear or original portion of tilt-back chair, and to usethe footrest portion separately for another seat elsewhere positioned inthe room. Likewise, it might be more desirable to position the tiltingchaise lounge out of the way alongside a wall, in whichcase such a pieceof furniture would look out of place without a high side to replace anarm on that side to form what would be a back on a sofa. Such a backwould of course preferably be stationary with respect to the legs of thechair and would not be moved with the tilting of the chair.

Also in such extended tilt-back chair or chaise lounge, the extendedportion is of the same width as the seat, and access to the seat becomescumbersome and clumsy, and womenparticularly avoid the use of them. Thenarrower footrest, required on the right ride of the seat for some onthe left side for others, makes it easy for even women, cripples, orchildren to get in and out of the chair. Also, often the users conditionof rest demands a change of position with one momentary desire for afeet-in-the-air position, followed perhaps by an inbetween position, orby a front sloping position with the footrest on the floor; or one maywish, in some positions of tilt,

to remove the feet from the footrest and have them adacent the rest andfiat on the floor, as if the footrest may sit in the tilt-back chair orchaise lounge with his feet comfortably on the floor or with his feet onthe footrest, without making any change in the chair's adjustment, asdetaching the footrest.

-A disadvantage in the combination of a tilt-back chair 'with detachablefootrest is that one balanced relation of the, movable part to thestationary legs obtains when the Thus with the narrower footrest one,ootrest is attached and another when the chair is in use 2,828,802Patented Apr. 1, 1958 without the rest. Likewise, when users ofdifferent height, weight or size use the same chair following eachother, the required balance is disturbed and some kind of adjustmentbecomes desirable for practical use.

In order to improve on the chair with separate footstool, some personshave provided a chair rest portion in a fixed seat-to-foot-rest shape,and the entire combination tilts together. This, however, does not givemaximum comfort under all conditions of size of user and does not giveother than momentary comfort. Also it makes getting into and out of sucha chair somewhat dilficult, particularly if arms are used. It is forthis reason that women very seldom use such a chair.

Another disadvantage in present tilt-back chair footrest combinationslies in the fact that, when a tilt-back chair having frictional positionretaining means is used by a user of one size or weight or without anattached foot portion, its center of balance is at one location; but, ifa user of greatly different size or weight sits down or when a footportion is connected to the front of the chair, the center of balance ofthe chair is moved and the person sitting in the chair must supply toomuch effort to keep the chair in its tilted-back position. This, over aperiod of time, becomes uncomfortable.

i t is an object of the invention to provide a stationary or tilt-backchair of the friction-holding type with an easily connected anddisconnected footrest portion, and to provide means for varying theshape relation between chair and rest for substantially balancing thechair with such footrest portion and for balancing the chair without thefootrest portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tiltback chair with orwithout an easily connected and disconnected footrest portion Whichautomatically assumes a balanced position as the chair is tiltedbackwards, regardless of size and shape and weight of user or anyattachable footrest.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable footrestportion for a tilt-back chair, which footrest portion can be easilyconnected to or disconnected from the chair.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means controlled by aperson sitting in a tilt-back chair to control the center of balance ofthe chair.

A further object is to provide a movable footrest portion for a sofa ordavenport center portion.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an ottoman or footrestportion narrower than the width of the seat with provision for use oneither side of the front chair portion so that room remains for theoccupant to rest his feet on the floor adjacent the ottoman or to swinghis feet up on the stool and by his weight swing the combination loungeup to any degree of backward inclination.

For a better understanding of the present invention, to gether withother and further objects thereof, reference is had to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a chair to which a footstool may beattached.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a footstool which may be attached to thechair shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the footrest of Fig. 2 connected to the front of thestationary or tilt chair shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows the combination of Fig. 3, with the chair tilted backwardand the footrest rigidly connected to the chair;

Fig. 5 shows the combination of Fig. 3 with the chair tilted backwardsbut with the footrest adjusted to form a with an extendedfootcomfortable angle with respect to the seat of the chair;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through the seat of a tilt chairshowing a form of an adjustable chair balance device having two mainco-actingportions;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the chair seat shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the tilt chair with footrest attachedand a third form of chair balance device;

Fig. 9 is an isometric View of a detail of the adjustable device shownin Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are side and front views of a modified type ofadjustable footrest-hinging device;

Fig. 12 is a detail of the hook connecting device used to attach thefootrest to the chair.

With reference to the drawings, there is shown a lounge chair 15 of thetype which is adapted to be tilted backwards by the occupant and which,by frictional resistance between engaging parts underneath the chair,will remain in the tilted position until the occupant leans forward, at

which time the chair will tilt forward and remain in the forwardpositionwhile the occupant gets out of the chair.

For maximum comfort a tilt-type chair is often provided with a separatefootstool which rests on the floor in front of the chair, and tilt-typechairs also have been provided integrally with footrest portionsextended be yond the front edge of the seat portion. Neither of thesecombinations provide comfortable accommodations at all times. When afootstool separate from the chair is used and the chair is tiltedbackwards, the arrangement sometimes is uncomfortable. When the footrestis a rigid part of the chair and the chair is tilted back, the positionmay after a period become uncomfortable for an occupant of the chair anda change of the shape of the chair and footrest may be desirable. Or,the extended portion may take too much room for continued use as suchand a tilt chair without the extension desirable. Or one may wish 'touse the extension as a separate seat or stool or as an ottoman inconnection with another chair.

The footrest of this invention is shown in Fig. 2 and is identifiedthroughout by reference character 16. It comprises the usual framemember 17 (Fig. 8) with or without legs connected to the frame, andupholstery and cushion material connected across the top of the frame.Extending from one side of the footrest 16 is a hook with comprises abar 18 extending from the outside through the frame of the footrest intothe inside thereof and the outside end of the bar 18 is turneddownwardly to form a hook 19.

The hook 19 is adapted to engage and be held by either one of the twohook engaging devices mounted on the front edge of the seat portion ofthe tilt-back chair. The-hook engaging device 30 is shown in detail inFi g. l2.

.In Fig. 3 the hook 119 of footrest 16 is connected into the righthandhook engaging device 30, forming a chair and footrest combinationwherein the occupant of the chair is provided with a comfortable placefor his feet, yet is allowed plenty of room to the near-side of thefootrest for getting into or out of the chair, thus eliminating one ofthe disadvantages of a tilt-chair having a permanently extendedfootrest. As shown in Fig. 3, the footrest 16 can be connected to theone side of the chair .15 if it is more convenient to get in and out ofthe chair from the other side.

Fig. 4 shows the chair 15 with the footrest 16 adjusted to be rigidlysecured to it, the combination being tilted back a moderate degreelifting the footrest completely off of the floor. Some persons preferthis position with the feet slightly elevated and supportedsubstantially straight out from the seat of the chair. However, somepersons, especially ifthe chair is tilted to a more appreciable degree,prefer to have the footrest slant downward away ,fromthe edge of thechair seat, as illustrated by Fig. 5.

The device of this invention provides for all positions in between andmay be acquired by any maker of systems of mechanism or hinges,onemechanism being shown in 4 detail in Figs. 8, l0 and 11. the usualsquare or oblong wooden frame 17 to which are connected four legs andupholstery 21. The bar 13 extends through a hole 22 in the frame 17 andthe downwardly turned hook portion 19 is outside of the frame. A cap 23is threaded onto the other end of the bar 18 and a helically coiledcompression spring 24 is mounted around the bar 18 between the frame 17and the cap 23. A metal plate 25 may be secured to the frame 17 at theend of the spring 24 to prevent the spring from damaging the frame 17,and a washer 27 may be Welded or otherwise alfixed to the bar 18 at alocation outside of the [frame to keep the hook portion 19 extendedbeyond the frame enough to permit entrance through the hole in theengaging device or fixture 30. A support strip 28 holds the bottom of 16horizontal.

As shown in Fig. 8, with the hook member 19 engaged in the hook holdingfixture 30connected to the front face of the chair seat, the weight ofthe footrest 16 compresses the spring 24 between the metal plate 25 andthe cap 23 by pulling a short length of the rod 18 out through the hole22 in the frame 17. This permits the footrest 16 to drop down withrespect to the chair seat, to assume a position which is morecomfortable for some occupants of the chair. The amount that thefootrest drops down can be adjusted by turning the cap 23 to compress orrelease the spring 24. When the spring 24 is strongly compressed, therod 18 will not move appreciably when the chair is tilted, therebyclosely holding the footrest to the chair, as shown in Fig. 4. With thecap 23 backed off, the spring 24 is under less compressional force, andthe footrest will assume the position shown in Fig. 5 when the chair istilted backward. Thus the relative position of the chair and footrestmay be adjusted by turning the cap 23 to vary the spring force.

As shown in Fig. 8, the hook retaining device 30 on the chair seat maycomprise a downwardly extending metal plate 30 and an upwardly extendingmetal plate 31 with the upwardly extending plate 31 set slightly forwardof the plate 30. The distance between the two plates should besufficient to permit the easy entrance of the hook portion 19 of the bar18 and to prevent the hook portion 19 from pulling out due to theforward and downward pulling force exerted by the footrest in itssuspended position. When the chair seat is horizontal, the hook 19 willeasily slip upward and out of the hook retaining device 30. When thefootrest 16 is raised vertically, the hook may then be pulled out by ahorizontal movement of the footrest.

Fig. 12 shows an alternative arrangement for holding the hook portion 19to the chair. It comprises metal plate means 35 adapted to be firmlyconnected to the front portion of the chair frame by screws extendingthrough holes 36 in the plate into the frame of the chair. The platemeans 35 include a forwardly extending box-like portion 37 into whichthe hook portion 19 is adapted to be positioned. It may be convenient tomake the metal plate means in two portions, an upper portion 38 and alower portion 39Vas shown, or the upper and lower portions 38, 39 may beintegral. When the hook portion 19 is in place and the bar 18 is tilteddownwardly away from the chair, the upper plate portion 38 keeps thehook portion 19 from coming out.

The tilt-back chair with which the footrest 16 is particularly adaptedto cooperate is the type wherein frictional forces are used to hold thechair in any tilt position which the occupant desires. The chair isprovided with an axis 40 (Figs. 6, 8) about which it tilts,- and sidepieces 41 and 42 frictionally engage the leg member 43 in order to setup the required frictional forces. A rocker member is mounted on top ofeach of the leg members 43. Means may be provided to squeeze the sidepieces 41, 42 together to maintain the frictional forces and to increaseThe footrest 16 comprises the forces if, after'a period of time, theydrop to too' low a degree. Depending upon the weight distribution of thechair and its occupant and upon the location of the axis 40, the chairhas a given center of balance to permit the occupant to easily tilt backor tilt forward. However, when a footrest is connected to the front edgeof the chair, it rather radically alters this center of balance, makingit hard for the occupant to tilt the chair back. To compensate for thisdifficulty there is provided balancing means for moving the center ofbalance of chair so that it is easy to tilt forward of backward with orwithout the footrest.

Fig. 6 shows a balancing device comprising a metal bar 45 connectedunderneath the chair seat and extending from the front part of the seatto the rear. Bracket 46 secured to the front chair frame member servesto hold the front end of bar 45 in place, and the bar 45 extends througha hole 47 in the rear frame member to hold the other end of the bar 45.The rear end of the bar 45 is turned to form a crank 49 to facilitateturning the bar 45. A weight 48 is movably mounted on the bar 45 so thatit can occupy any position between the extreme forward and rearwardpositions 48' and 48 shown in Fig. 6. Preferably the bar 45 is threadedand the position of the weight 48 is changed with respect to the chairby turning the crank 49. Means such as a board 50 extending parallel toand closely adjacent the weight 48 are provided to prevent the weightfrom turning as the bar 45 is turned. When the footrest is not connectedto the chair, the weight should be in position 48, but when the footrestis connected, the weight should be moved to position 48 to substantiallyre-establish the proper balance. To provide adjustment for users ofdifferent height and weight, another method is to slidably mount aweight on a rectangular bar similar to bar 45 but nnthreaded, so thatgravity slides the weight from the front 48' to any intermediateposition to lower limit 48.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another means for re-establishing the properchair balance. It comprises a spring 60, one end of which is connectedto bracket 61 screwed to the chair leg 43. The other end of spring 60 isconnected through a hole 65 in one end of the plate 64. A handle 63 isconnected to the other end of the plate 64, and the plate 64 is securedat 66 to the frame of the chair in such a manner that it may be turnedabout the axis of the handle 63. The assembly is in the form of anover-center tension spring, such that the occupant of the chair can, byturning the handle 63, establish two separate spring tensions tending tohold the back of the chair down toward the floor. Thus when thefootstool 16 is connected to the front of the chair as shown in Fig. 8,the occupant of the chair could adjust the tension of the spring 60 toits greater amount to substantially re-establish a comfortable balancefor the chair and footstool combination.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be thepreferred embodiments of this invention, it Will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore,aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modificationsas fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination; a tilt chair having a seat portion, a leg member,tilt means supporting said seat portion on said leg member for tiltingmotion of said seat portion with respect to said leg member, frictionalmeans in engagement with said seat portion and in engagement with saidleg member for frictionally controlling the fixed tilt position of theseat portion with respect to the leg member, balance adjusting meansconnected to said seat portion for effectively moving the center ofbalance of said seat portion with respect to said leg member, and meansfor changing said balance adjusting means.

2. A tilt chair as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by saidbalance adjusting means comprising a bar mounted under said seat portionand extending from the front toward the back of said chair, a weightmovably mounted on said bar, and means for moving said weight on saidbar to shift the center of balance of said seat portion with respect tosaid leg member.

3. A tilt chair as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by saidbalance adjusting means comprising spring means connected to said legmember and connected to said seat portion, and means for varying thespring forces exerted by said spring between said leg member and saidseat portion.

4. A tilt chair as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by saidspring means comprising a tension spring stretched between said legmember and said seat portion, and by means for varying the tension insaid tension spring.

5. In combination; a tilt chair having a seat portion, a leg portion forsupporting said seat portion on the floor, tilt means supporting saidseat portion on said leg portion for tilting motion of said seat portionwith respect to said leg portion, frictional means in engagement withsaid seat portion and in engagement with said. leg portion for'rictionally controlling the fixed tilt position of the seat portionwith respect to the leg portion, a footrest portion, means fordetachably securing said footrest portion to said seat portion, chairbalance adjusting means connected to said seat portion for effectivelymoving the center of balance of said seat portion with respect to saidleg portion, and means for changing said balance adjusting means tocompensate for the weight of said footrest portion on said seat portion.

6. In combination: a tilt chair having a seat portion; a leg member;means connected between said seat portion and said leg member comprisinga portion of said chair whereby said seat portion may be tiltedbackwards with respect to the leg member; frictional means in engagementwith said seat portion and in engagement with said leg member forfrictionally controlling the: fixed tilt position of the seat portionwith respect to the leg member; a foot rest portion; means forconnecting said foot rest portion to the front of said seat portion; andbalancing means comprising a bar connected underneath said seatextending from the front of said seat toward the rear, a weight movablymounted on said bar for changing the center of balance of said chair assaid weight moves whereby said seat portion may be substantiallybalanced upon the connection of said foot rest portion to said seatportion.

7. In combination: a tilt chair having a seat portion; a leg member;means connected between said seat portion and said leg member comprisinga portion of said chair whereby said seat portion may be tiltedbackwards with respect to the leg member; frictional means in engagement with said seat portion and in engagement with said leg memberfor frictionally controlling the fixed tilt position of the seat portionwith respect to the leg member; a foot rest portion; means forconnecting said foot rest portion to the front of said seat portion; andbalancing means comprising a spring connected between said seat portionand said leg member, and means connected to said spring to change thespring tension.

8. In combination: a lounge chair having a seat portion including a pairof spaced rockers; a foot rest portion; first connecting meanscomprising hook receiving and retaining means secured to the front edgeof the seat portion of said chair; and cooperating second connectingmeans comprising a hook member having a hook portion and a bar portionslidably connected to said foot rest portion with the hook portionoutside of one edge of said foot rest portion and with the bar portionwithin said foot rest portion and detachable therefrom; said foot restportion including a frame; and compressible spring means mounted aroundsaid bar portion and against the frame of said foot rest portion to becom- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNoonan July 27, 1875 Emerson June 26, 1883 Kaltwasser Nov. 13, 1894Allen Sept. 20, 1898 10 8 ElindaH --k- A g- 25, 1908 Fl inclall Dec. 7,1909 Stockwell Oct. 23, 1917 Russo July 22, 1919 Miller Sept. 29, 1925FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1909 Germany May 5, 1931

